Hair-grooming device



Sept. 24, 1968 P. A. LAWRENCE HAIR-GROOMING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1965 llllll ll ll ll a 0 till! AffOP/VEFS United States Patent 3,402,730 HAIR-GROOMING DEVICE Paul A. Lawrence, 1660 Beaver, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Continuation-impart of applicationSer. No. 418,631, Dec. 16, 1964. This application May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,086

7 Claims. (Cl. 132-139) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair-grooming device having two rows of aligned teeth oppositely directed on a frame member. An extending finger member mounted on the frame member spaced from one row of the teeth and having the teeth directed toward the finger and extending in spaced parallel relationship thereto.

This is a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 418,631, filed Dec. 16, 1964.

This hair grooming device also designed primarily for use on humans hair may also be used on animal hair or the like. Considerable time and effort is spent in grooming womens hair particularly whether it be in the home or in a beauty salon. A conventional comb having a curler finger as a part of the handle is frequently used and requires turning the entire device 180 degrees to permit alternate usage of the comb and then the curling finger. These two portions of the grooming device are used over and over in the grooming operation and therefore any improvement in the grooming device which will reduce time and motion expended will be immediately recognized as a substantial improvement.

Therefore, it is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a grooming device having a curling finger disposed adjacent the teeth of a comb whereby only a slight rotation of the grooming device is required to alternately use the curler and/ or the portion of the grooming device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grooming device which eliminates the need to turn the device from end to end to use the curler portion or the comb portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grooming device which employs two sets of-teeth and a curling finger disposed adjacent one set of teeth and a liquid means for dispensing liquid to the other set of teeth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grooming device having a frame and a curling finger with teeth disposed therebetween which extend laterally outwardly of the plane of the curling finger and the frame.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a grooming device having a frame and a curling finger wherein teeth are disposed between the frame and the curling finger with their outer free ends disposed laterally outwardly of the plane of th finger and the frame and additionally having the teeth removable to permit their being disposed on the opposite side of the grooming device to thereby accommodate right or left-handed operators.

It is another object of this invention to provide a grooming device having a frame and a curling finger extending therealong with teeth disposed therebetween which extend laterally outwardly of the plane of the finger and the frame but have an effective length substantially equal to the distance between the finger and the frame but yet define a passageway therebetween whereby hair may be loosely placed in the passageway or by rotation of the grooming device engage the teeth of the comb and the fingers simultaneously.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a grooming device having a frame and a curling finger ex- 3,402,730 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 tending in substantially parallel relationship thereto wherein the frame has a connecting means cooperating with the teeth connecting means and the connecting means of the teeth and the frame include a tongue and groove arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grooming device having a frame and a plurality of teeth which are readily removable therefrom for cleaning purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hair grooming device which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the grooming device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1 showing in particular the relationship of the two sets of teeth and the curling finger;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the comb of FIG. 1 but with the teeth adjacent the curling finger turned end for end to thereby dispose them on the opposite side of the curling finger and moreover this figure illustrates the hair loosely disposed between the teeth and the curling finger;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the grooming device rotated a few degrees to bring the teeth adjacent the curling finger into engagement with the hair; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the grooming device of FIG. 1 but with a liquid dispensing means added thereto.

In FIGURE 1 the grooming device of this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10 and includes a frame 12 with a handle 14 extending from one end thereof.

A plurality of teeth 16 extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the frame 12 in a conventional manner. On the opposite side of the frame 12 from the teeth 16 a second set of teeth 18 are provided which are detachably secured to the frame 12. A tongue and groove connecting arrangement is provided for securing the set of teeth 18 to the frame 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. This connection includes a tongue 20 on the frame 12 and a groove 22 in the base portion of the teeth 18. It is seen that the set of teeth 18 may be removed from the frame 12 by sliding them longitudinally thereof until the tongue 20 is disengaged from the groove 22.

The set of teeth 18 include a plurality of teeth 24 which are curved in shape along their length. A curling finger 26 is secured to the frame 12 and extends longitudinally therealong adjacent the outer free ends of the teeth 24. A free end portion 28 is provided on the finger 26 which extends outwardly of the adjacent end of the frame 12 and the teeth 18 and the teeth 16. It is seen in FIG. 1 that the curved teeth 24 have an effective length in the plane of the finger member 26 and the frame 12 which is substantially equal to the distance between the frame 12 and the finger 26. However, as seen in FIG. 2, a passageway 30 is provided between the teeth 24 and the finger 26.

Accordingly, hair 32 as seen in FIG. 3 may be loosely positioned in the passageway 30 between the teeth 24 and the finger 26 and then upon rotation of the grooming device 10 a few degrees the teeth 24 will move into engagement with the hair 32 and permit combing or sectioning the hair.

In FIG. 5 a grooming device 10A is provided which is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1-4 but additionally includes a liquid dispensing system. A handle 34 is provided which includes a rigid portion 36 extending into a reservoir bulb 38 having communication with a passageway 40 extending into the frame 12. From the passageway 40 a passageway 42 communicates with a passageway 44 which in turn connects to access openings 46 between the teeth 16. An adjustable metering valve 48 is provided in the frame 12 for controlling the fiow through the passageway 40. This valve 48 is adjustable by its threadable engagement in the frame 12.

A second means is provided in the frame 12 and in cludes a detent element 50 which is held in a normally closed position in the passageway 49 by a spring 52. An opening 54 through the detent 50 is provided for alignment with the passageway 40 when the detent 50 is depressed against the action of the spring 52. It is contemplated that the valve means 48 will be adjusted to provide the maximum amount of fluid desired and then the finger actuated detent 50 may be operated thereafter to apply fluid from the reservoir 38 to the teeth 16.

Any number of materials may be used for fabricating the grooming devices and 10A. Plastic material has been found to be quite satisfactory for this purpose.

The manner in which the device will be used will vary with the person using it. But, when hair is to be sectioned off by use of the curler finger 26 as shown in FIG. 3, it is only necessary to rotate the grooming device 10 a few degrees to permit combing of the hair 32. This is frequently done during the setting of a persons hair after it has been wetted by application of liquid from the reservoir 38 to the larger teeth 16.

It is to be appreciated that the set of teeth 18 may be easily cleaned by simply removing them from the frame 12 due to the convenient tongue and groove connection and 22. Moreover, this connection permits selective placing of the teeth 24 on opposite sides of the grooming device 10 to suit the purposes of the user. For example, a right-handed person would prefer the teeth 24 to be on one side while a left-hand person would need them on the opposite side. Other advantages from this versatility are apparent.

If desired, the teeth 18 may be removed entirely from the comb device if a larger opening is desired.

It is quite apparent that a great savings in time and motion are made possible by the use of the comb devices 10 and 10A since all operations may be performed while holding the comb in one hand as it is never necessary to turn the comb end for end. The hair may be combed out by the teeth 16, then wetted by application of liquid from the reservoir 38, then sectioned off by the use of the curling finger 26 and then combed by the teeth 24.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my hair grooming device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a hair grooming device, comprising,

a frame member having a handle at one end,

a plurality of aligned teeth at the opposite end of said frame extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said frame member,

a finger member extending from the side of said frame opposite from said teeth, said finger being secured to said frame at a point'inte'rmediate it ends and extending in substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of said frame along a portion of the length of said frame, said finger along its substantial length being spaced from said frame member and terminating in a free end portion disposed longitudinally adjacent said opposite end of said frame, and

said frame being further defined as having a second plurality of aligned teeth on said portion of said frame along which said finger extends, and said teeth extending towards said finger with their outer ends terminating in spaced relationship thereto, said outer ends disposed transversely outwardly of the plane of said finger and said frame member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of teeth have an effective length measured between said frame member and said finger substantially equal to the distance between said frame and said finger member and a passageway being defined between said finger member and said second plurality of teeth, the axis of said passageway extending at an angle to the plane of said finger member and said frame.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of teeth are detachably secured to said frame and are adapted to be turned end for end to position the teeth on the opposite side of the plane of said finger member and said frame.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said second plurality of teeth are arcuate in shape along their length.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of teeth and said frame member each have cooperating connecting means, one of said connecting means includes a tongue portion and the other of said connecting means includes a grooved portion to receive said tongue portion.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of teeth and said frame member each have cooperating connecting means, one of said connecting means includes a tongue portion and the other of said connecting means includes a grooved portion to receive said tongue portion, said second plurality of teeth and its said connecting means being uniform throughout its length whereby said second plurality of teeth may be turned end for end to position said teeth on the opposite side of the plane of said finger member and said frame.

7. The structure of claim 1 and a liquid storage chamber is provided with passageways formed in said frame leading to each of said teeth in said first plurality of teeth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 323,889 8/1885 Smith et a1. 132139 1,516,990 11/1924 Silverman 132150 2,130,638 9/1938 Donahoo 132122 2,148,966 2/1939 Schmidt 132116 2,288,156 6/1942 Dove 132-124 2,725,886 12/1955 Gagliano 1327 XR LOU-IS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

G. E. McNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

